Novo Nordisk To Award $80,000 To Local Programs That Help People Living With Diabetes In Rochester, Minnesota As Part Of Educational Initiative

ROCHESTER, Minn., Aug. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care, announced today that it is now accepting applications from local Rochester, Minnesota nonprofit organizations for 2013 Novo Nordisk Community Care sponsorships. Through the sponsorships, Novo Nordisk will invest $80,000 to support local organizations that educate people living with type 2 diabetes. For more information about the sponsorship criteria and to download an application form, interested nonprofit organizations should visit http://www.novonordisk-us.com/communitycare. Applications are due September 16, 2013.

"Nearly 438,000 Minnesotans are projected to have diabetes by 2015," said Diana Blankman, Director, US Corporate Giving and Social Impact at Novo Nordisk. "The diabetes epidemic is not slowing down. At Novo Nordisk, we consider it our duty to continue to work closely with these community-based organizations that are vital to creating change in diabetes education from the ground up."

Since the program's inception in 2011, Novo Nordisk Community Care has awarded nearly $715,000 to organizations in nine markets across the country and has sponsored more than 36 diverse community-based programs. Last year's sponsored programs were selected for their distinctive applications focused on education and resources for patients, ranging from healthy living educational workshops and dance classes, community health advocate/peer mentor training and patient empowerment programs. This year, Novo Nordisk will offer new sponsorship opportunities to eligible nonprofit organizations dedicated to educating and empowering patients in Rochester, Minnesota to become more engaged in their health and management of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes has become a global health crisis and is taking a major toll on our communities, including Minnesota. A recent model from the Institute for Alternative Futures, commissioned by Novo Nordisk, estimates that the number of Americans living with diabetes will increase 64 percent between 2010 and 2025, affecting more than 53 million people. And, in Minnesota, it's estimated that the number of people with diabetes will increase 100 percent between 2010 and 2025, to affect nearly 637,000 people. This dramatic increase could mean a total of $6.4 billion in total medical and indirect societal costs of diabetes for the state of Minnesota by 2025.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a global health care company with 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone therapy. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 32,700 employees in 75 countries, and markets its products in more than 190 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen (Novo-B). Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NVO). For more information, visit novonordisk.com.